Client support system

ABSTRACT

A maker of a measuring device ( 1 ) provides, on a client support system, a WWW server ( 24 ) for providing the operation manual of the measuring device ( 1 ) in an HTML format, and an ordered article control server ( 27 ) for performing a supply control on the expendables of a measuring device ( 1 ). The measuring device ( 1 ) has a browsing function, and a monitor unit ( 12 ) monitors the status of a control unit ( 11 ) to display a proper page in the operation manual on a monitor ( 14   a ) by requesting a transfer of a URL to the WWW server ( 24 ) according to the status of the control unit ( 11 ) at that time. Ordering of expendables is possible by means of an ordering screen incorporated in the operation manual.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a client-server system in whicha client device and a server device are connected to each other via acommunication line. In particular, it relates to a client support systemfor supporting the work of a client by providing an operation manual ofthe client device described in a hypertext format from a server device.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, a client-server type system, in which a clientdevice and a server device are connected to each other via acommunication line and the server device provides the client device withservice for supporting the work of a client has been known and used invarious fields.

[0003] Furthermore, in recent years, in accordance with the advent of asmall and thin display such as a liquid crystal display and theimprovement in the performance of a microprocessor, some attempts havebeen made to incorporate a display and a microprocessor into not only acomputer but also devices in various technical fields and to use the WWW(World Wide Web) of the Internet by way of such devices.

[0004] By the way, as an operation manual for devices in all technicalfields, for example, a measuring device, an analyzing device, amanufacturing device, a processing device, an information processingdevice, or the like, the fact is that printed manuals are mainly usedeven now. Therefore, an operator of such a device has to search for thenecessary part by turning pages of the printed manual during operationif necessary. Thus there has been a problem that the working efficiencyis reduced.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a clientsupport system in which an arbitrary device such as a measuring deviceis to be a client device having a browsing function and being accessibleto a server device via a communication line and an operation manual isprovided from the server device, thereby improving the workingefficiency of the client device.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first clientsupport system of the present invention includes a client deviceincluding a display unit for analyzing a page description language to bedisplayed, and a server device accessed by the client device via acommunication line and providing the client device with an operationmanual in which each page is described in the page description language,wherein the client device includes a monitor unit for monitoring thestatus of the client device and a communication control unit foraccessing the server device via the communication line, and the monitorunit requests a page in the operation manual in accordance with thestatus of the client device via the communication control unit, and theserver device sends the page requested by the client device to theclient device.

[0007] With this system, a proper page of the operation manual isrequested from the server device by the client device in accordance withthe status of the client device (waiting status, normal operationstatus, maintenance status, trouble status, or the like). Then, a pagedescription language sent from the server device to the client device inaccordance with this request is analyzed and displayed in the displayunit of the client device. Note here that the page description languagerepresents, for example, a WEB page description language, etc.

[0008] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient support system capable of significantly improving the workingefficiency of the client device in use.

[0009] Note here that the technical field and application of use of theclient device is arbitrary, and the present invention can be carried outby using any client devices such as a measuring device, an analyzingdevice, a manufacturing device, a processing device, an informationprocessing device, or the like. Furthermore, the operation manual caninclude not only an operation procedure for achieving the main object ofthe client device (for example, to execute measurement in the case of ameasuring device) but also any operation procedures, for example, aprocedure for an initial setting when the client device is used for thefirst time, a maintenance procedure, a procedure of handling error ortrouble, etc.

[0010] Furthermore, a second client support system includes a clientdevice including a display unit for analyzing a page descriptionlanguage to be displayed, and a server device accessed by the clientdevice via a communication line and providing the client device with anoperation manual in which each page is described in the page descriptionlanguage, wherein the client device includes a monitor unit formonitoring the status of the client device and a communication controlunit for accessing the server device via the communication line, and themonitor unit sends information that represents the status of the clientdevice via the communication control unit, and the server device sends apage in the operation manual in accordance with the status of the clientdevice to the client device based on the information sent from theclient device.

[0011] With this second client support system, information thatrepresents the status of the client device is sent to the server device,and a page in accordance with the status of the client device isselected from the operation manual and sent to the client device.

[0012] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient support system capable of significantly improving the workingefficiency of the client device in use.

[0013] In the above-mentioned client support system, it is preferablethat the client device includes at least two routes of power supplies;and the display unit, the monitor unit and the communication controlunit are connected to a second route of power supply that is differentfrom a first route of power supply to be turned off at the time of amaintaining process.

[0014] In general, when a maintaining process is carried out, for safetyof an operator, the operator is obliged to turn off the power supply atleast at the site to be maintained. With the above-mentionedconfiguration, since a component part necessary to display an operationmanual is connected to a second route of power supply that is differentfrom a first power supply that is turned off at the time of maintainingprocess, it is possible to display the operation manual even after thefirst power supply is turned off. Note here that the maintaining processincludes not only a maintaining inspection process but also any otherprocesses necessary to maintain a normal operation status, for example,a maintenance process, an error handling, a trouble shooting, or thelike.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the display unit of the clientdevice includes a display status storage unit for storing the displaystatus before starting the maintaining process, and the display unitreturns to the display status read out from the display status storageunit when the first power supply is turned on after the maintainingprocess is finished.

[0016] Thus, after the maintaining process is finished, since a page ofthe operation manual displayed before the maintaining process isstarted, an operator of the client device easily can return to the workat the time before the maintaining process was started.

[0017] It is preferable that the operation manual includes an orderingscreen that interactively receives an order for implements or componentsof the client device and forms order data, the client device includes aninput processing unit for receiving the input with respect to theordering screen and at the same time sends the order data to the serverdevice by the communication control unit, and the server device receivesthe order data and performs a supply process for the implements orcomponents based on the received order data.

[0018] With this configuration, an operator of the client device canorder implements or components simply by inputting the necessaryinformation in the ordering screen.

[0019] It is preferable that in the operation manual, the orderingscreen for components is incorporated in a page including thedescription of the replacement of components of the client device.

[0020] Thus, an operator of the client device can order replacementcomponents, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily at the same timeof replacing expendables, etc. in, for example, the maintenance processor a trouble shooting of the client device. Thus, it is possible toprevent forgetting to order components.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferable that in an operation manual, theordering screen for components is incorporated in a page explaining aseries of operation procedures including the replacement of componentsof the client device and being displayed later than the page includingthe description of the replacement of components.

[0022] Thus, immediately after the replacement of expendables, etc. isfinished in, for example, the maintenance process or trouble shooting ofthe client device, the operator of the client device can order thereplacement components, etc. easily by means of the ordering screen,thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to order components.

[0023] It is preferable that in the operation manual, the orderingscreen for components is incorporated in a page called by a hyperlinkfrom the page including the description of the replacement of componentsof the client device.

[0024] Also in this case, immediately after the replacement ofexpendables, etc. is finished, the operator of the client device canorder the replacement components, etc. by means of the ordering screeneasily, thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to ordercomponents.

[0025] It is preferable that the client support system further includesa supply control device for controlling the supply process of implementsor components for the client device, wherein the supply process ofimplements or components includes sending the order data from the serverdevice to the supply control device.

[0026] According to this configuration, all the server device has to dois to receive the order data from the client device and send them to thesupply control unit. Actual supply procedures such as delivery andshipment of implements or components, and issuing bills, etc. arecarried out in the supply control device, etc. Thus, it is possible torealize a mechanism for supplying the client device with implements orcomponents without burdening the server device with too much load.

[0027] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first clientdevice of the present invention includes a communication control unitfor accessing a server device providing an operation manual in whicheach page is described in a page description language via acommunication line, and a display unit for analyzing the pagedescription language to be displayed, the server device sending a pagerequested by the client device of the operation manual to the clientdevice, and further including a monitor unit for monitoring the statusof the client device, the monitor unit requesting a page of theoperation manual in accordance with the status of the client device viathe communication control unit.

[0028] With this configuration, a proper page of the operation manual isrequested in accordance with the status of the client device (waitingstatus, normal operation status, maintenance status, trouble status, orthe like) and then a page description language sent from the serverdevice is analyzed in the display unit to be the displayed. Thus, it ispossible to display a proper page in accordance with the status ofdevice.

[0029] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient device having a high working efficiency.

[0030] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, asecond client device of the present invention includes a communicationcontrol unit for accessing the server device providing a page of theoperation manual in accordance with the status of the client device inwhich each page is described in a page description language via acommunication line, a display unit for analyzing the page descriptionlanguage to be displayed, and a monitor unit for monitoring the statusof the client device, wherein the monitor unit sends information thatrepresents the status of the client device to the server device via thecommunication control unit.

[0031] With this configuration, a proper page of the operation manual issent from the server device in accordance with the status of the clientdevice (waiting status, normal operation status, maintenance status,trouble status, or the like) and then the page description language sentfrom the server device is analyzed and displayed in a display unit.Thus, it is possible to display a proper page in accordance with thestatus of device.

[0032] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient device having a high working efficiency.

[0033] It is preferable that the client device includes at least tworoutes of power supplies; and the display unit, the monitor unit and thecommunication control unit are connected to a second route of powersupply that is different from a first route of power supply to be turnedoff at the time of a maintaining process.

[0034] In general, when a maintaining process is carried out, for safetyof an operator, the operator is obliged to turn off the power supply atleast at the site to be maintained. With the above-mentionedconfiguration, since a component part necessary to display an operationmanual is connected to a second route of power supply that is differentfrom a first power supply that is turned off at the time of themaintaining process, it is possible to display the operation manual evenafter the first power supply is turned off. Note here that themaintaining process includes not only a maintaining inspection processbut also any other processes necessary to maintain a normal operationstatus, for example, a maintenance process, an error handling, a troubleshooting, or the like.

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferable that the display unit of the clientdevice includes a display status storage unit for storing the displaystatus before starting the maintaining process, and the display unitreturns to the display status read out from the display status storageunit when the first power supply is turned on after the maintainingprocess is finished.

[0036] Thus, after the maintaining process is finished, since a page ofthe operation manual displayed before the maintaining process isstarted, an operator of the client device easily can return to the workat the time before the maintaining process was started.

[0037] In the client device, it is preferable that the operation manualincludes an ordering screen that interactively receives an order forimplements or components of the client device and forms order data, andfurther including an input processing unit for receiving the input withrespect to the ordering screen and at the same time sending the orderdata to the server device by the communication control unit.

[0038] With this configuration, an operator of the client device canorder implements or components from the server device only by inputtingthe necessary information in an ordering screen.

[0039] In the client device, it is preferable that in the operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pageincluding the description for the replacement of components of theclient device.

[0040] Thus, an operator of the client device can order replacementcomponents, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily at the same timeof replacing expendables, etc. in, for example, the maintenance processor a trouble shooting of the client device. Thus, it is possible toprevent forgetting to order components.

[0041] In the client device, it is preferable that in an operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pageexplaining a series of operation procedures including the replacement ofcomponents of the client device and being displayed later than the pageincluding the description of the replacement of components.

[0042] Thus, immediately after the replacement of expendables, etc. isfinished in, for example, the maintenance process or trouble shooting ofthe client device, the operator of the client device can order thereplaced components, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily, thusmaking it possible to prevent forgetting to order components.

[0043] In the client device, it is preferable that in the operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pagecalled by a hyperlink from the page including the description of thereplacement of components of the client device.

[0044] Also in this case, immediately after the replacement ofexpendables, etc. is finished, the operator of the client device canorder the replaced components, etc. easily by means of the orderingscreen, thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to ordercomponents.

[0045] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first serverdevice of the present invention is accessed by a client device via acommunication line and provides the client device with an operationmanual of the client device, the client device including a display unitfor analyzing a page description language to be displayed and requestinga page in accordance with the status of the client device in theoperation manual, the server device including a storage unit for storingeach page of the operation manual described in the page descriptionlanguage, and a communication control unit for sending and receivingdata, wherein the server device receives a request of a page of theoperation manual in accordance with the statues of the client devicefrom the client device by way of the communication control unit, obtainsthe requested page from the storage unit, and sends it to the clientdevice.

[0046] With this configuration, the server device sends a proper page ofthe operation manual in accordance with the status of the client device(waiting status, normal operation status, maintenance status, troublestatus, or the like). Then, the page description language sent from theserver device in accordance with this request is analyzed in the displayunit of the client device to be displayed.

[0047] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient support system capable of significantly improving the workingefficiency of the client device.

[0048] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, asecond server device of the present invention is accessed by a clientdevice including a display unit for analyzing a page descriptionlanguage to be displayed via a communication line and provides theclient device with an operation manual of the client device, which isdescribed in the page description language, the server device includinga storage unit for storing each page of the operation manual, and acommunication control unit for sending and receiving data, wherein theserver device receives the information that represents the status of theclient device from the client device by way of the communication controlunit, and obtains the requested page in the operation manual from thestorage unit, and sends it to the client device.

[0049] With this configuration, the server device sends a proper page ofthe operation manual in accordance with the status of the client device(waiting status, normal operation status, maintenance status, troublestatus, or the like). Then, the page description language sent from theserver device in accordance with this request is analyzed in the displayunit of the client device to be displayed.

[0050] Thus, since an operator of the client device can advance workwith reference to a proper page in accordance with the status of theclient device, it is not necessary to search the operation manual for aproper page as conventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide aclient support system capable of significantly improving the workingefficiency of the client device.

[0051] In the server device, it is preferable that the operation manualincludes an ordering screen that interactively receives an order forimplements or components of the client device and forms order data, theorder data are sent from the client device to the server device via thecommunication line, and the sever device receives the order data fromthe client device by way of the communication control unit and performsa supply process for the implements or components.

[0052] With this configuration, an operator of the client device canorder implements or components from the sever device only by inputtingthe necessary information in an ordering screen.

[0053] In the server device, it is preferable that in the operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pageincluding the description of the replacement of components of the clientdevice.

[0054] Thus, an operator of the client device can order replacementcomponents, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily at the same timeof replacing expendables, etc. in, for example, the maintenance processor a trouble shooting of the client device. Thus, it is possible toprevent forgetting to order components.

[0055] In the server device, it is preferable that in an operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pageexplaining a series of operation procedures including the replacement ofcomponents of the client device and being displayed later than the pageincluding the description of the replacement of components.

[0056] Thus, immediately after the replacement of expendables, etc. isfinished in, for example, the maintenance process or trouble shooting ofthe client device, the operator of the client device can order thereplacement components, etc. by means of ordering screen easily, thusmaking it possible to prevent forgetting to order components.

[0057] In the server device, it is preferable that in the operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pagecalled by a hyperlink from the page including the description of thereplacement of components of the client device.

[0058] Also in this case, immediately after the replacement ofexpendables, etc. is finished, the operator of the client device canorder the replacement components, etc. by means of the ordering screeneasily, thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to ordercomponents.

[0059] In the server device, it is preferable that the supply processfor implements or components includes sending the order data to thesupply control unit for controlling the supply of implements orcomponents with respect to the client device.

[0060] According to this configuration, all the server device has to dois to receive the order data from the client device and send them to thesupply control unit. Actual supply procedures such as delivery andshipment of implements or components, and issuing bills, etc. arecarried out in the supply control device, etc. Thus, it is possible torealize a mechanism for supplying the client device with implements orcomponents without burdening the server device with too much load.

[0061] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a firstinformation recording medium of the present invention records anoperation manual provided from a server device to a client device in aclient support system including a client device having a display unitfor analyzing a page description language to be displayed and a serverdevice accessed by the client device via a communication line andproviding the client device with an operation manual of the clientdevice in which each page is described in the page description language,the client system requesting a page of the operation manual inaccordance with the status in the client device, wherein the operationmanual is divided into pages in accordance with the status of the clientdevice and the operation procedure of the client device is described ineach page with the use of the page description language.

[0062] The operation manual recorded in this information recordingmedium is used in the client support system, thereby enabling anoperator of the client device to advance work with reference to a properpage in accordance with the status of the client device, so that it isnot necessary to search the operation manual for a proper page asconventionally. Consequently, it is possible to provide a client supportsystem capable of significantly improving the working efficiency of theclient device in use.

[0063] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, afirst information recording medium of the present invention records anoperation manual provided from a server device to a client device in aclient support system including a client device having a display unitfor analyzing a page description language to be displayed, and a serverdevice accessed by the client device via a communication line andproviding the client device with an operation manual of the clientdevice in which each page is described in the page description language,the client device sending information that represents the status of theclient device and the server device sending the page in accordance withthe status of the client device, wherein the operation manual is dividedinto pages in accordance with the status of the client device and theoperation procedure of the client device is described in each page withthe use of the page description language.

[0064] By using an operation manual recorded in this informationrecording medium in the client support system, an operator of the clientdevice can advance work with reference to a proper page in accordancewith the status of the client device, so that it is not necessary tosearch for a proper page of the operation manual as conventionally.Consequently, it is possible to provide a client support system capableof significantly improving the working efficiency of the client devicein use.

[0065] In the above-mentioned information recording medium, it ispreferable that the operation manual includes an ordering screen thatinteractively receives an order for implements or components of theclient device and forms order data.

[0066] Thus, an operator of the client device can order implements orcomponents from the server device only by inputting the necessaryinformation in an ordering screen.

[0067] In the above-mentioned information recording medium, it ispreferable that in the operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page including the description of thereplacement of components of the client device.

[0068] Thus, an operator of the client device can order replacementcomponents, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily at the same timeof replacing expendables, etc. in, for example, the maintenance processor a trouble shooting of the client device. Thus, it is possible toprevent forgetting to order components.

[0069] In the above-mentioned information recording medium, it ispreferable that in an operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page explaining a series of operationprocedures including the replacement of components of the client deviceand being displayed later than the page including the description of thereplacement of components.

[0070] Thus, immediately after the replacement of expendables, etc. isfinished in, for example, the maintenance process or trouble shooting ofthe client device, the operator of the client device can order thereplacement components, etc. by means of the ordering screen easily,thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to order components.

[0071] In the above-mentioned information recording medium, it ispreferable that in the operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page called by a hyperlink from the pageincluding the description of the replacement of components of the clientdevice.

[0072] Also in this case, immediately after the replacement ofexpendables, etc. is finished, the operator of the client device canorder the replacement components, etc. by means of the ordering screeneasily, thus making it possible to prevent forgetting to ordercomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a clientsupport system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0074]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation of a measuring deviceas a client device in the client support system.

[0075]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation of a WWW server as aserver device in the client support system.

[0076]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of an interrupt processwhen a trouble occurs in the measuring device.

[0077]FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of a top page of anonline manual provided from the WWW server to the measuring device.

[0078]FIG. 6 is a view for explaining one example of a page linked fromthe top page shown in FIG. 5.

[0079]FIG. 7 is a view for explaining another example of a page linkedfrom the top page shown in FIG. 5.

[0080]FIG. 8 is a view explaining one page of the online manual forexplaining a page including an ordering screen of expendables to bereplaced at the time of maintenance.

[0081]FIG. 9 is a view explaining an example of a page displayed whentrouble occurs in the measuring device.

[0082]FIG. 10 is a view explaining an example of a page displayed aftertrouble occurs and indicating a first step of a procedure for copingwith the trouble.

[0083]FIG. 11 is a view explaining an example of a page displayedfollowing the page shown in FIG. 10.

[0084]FIG. 12 is a view explaining an example of a page displayedfollowing the page shown in FIG. 11.

[0085]FIG. 13 is a view explaining an example of a page displayedfollowing the page shown in FIG. 12.

[0086]FIG. 14 is a view explaining an example of a page displayedfollowing the page shown in FIG. 13.

[0087]FIG. 15 is a view explaining an example of a page displayedfollowing the page shown in FIG. 14.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0088] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to the drawings.

[0089]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of aclient support system according to this embodiment.

[0090] This system includes a measuring device 1 as a client device anda WWW server 24 as a server device, which are connected to each othervia the Internet 10 as a communication line. Note here that a measuringdevice is given as an example of the client device, but the presentinvention can be carried out by using any other client devices invarious technical fields and with various applications of use. Anexample of the client device includes an analyzing device, amanufacturing device, a processing device, an information processingdevice, or the like, in addition to a measuring device.

[0091] The measuring device 1 is configured so that it can be connectedto the Internet 10 and has a monitor 14 a having a browsing function todisplay HTML documents. Furthermore, a maker A of the measuring device 1forms an online manual of HTML documents indicating an operationprocedure, a maintenance procedure, and a trouble shooting procedure,etc. for the measuring device 1, and allows the online manual to bebrowsed on the WWW server 24 of the maker A.

[0092] From the measuring device 1, in accordance with the status(waiting status, measuring status, or status in trouble) of the insidethe device, the designation of a URL of a proper page in the onlinemanual and requests of a transfer of the page to the WWW server 24 arecarried out. The WWW server 24 sends HTML data of the page requested bythe measuring device 1 to the measuring device 1, and the measuringdevice 1 analyzes the HTML data to be displayed on the monitor 14 a.Thus, an operator of the measuring device 1 usually can refer to aproper page of the online manual while operating the measuring device 1.

[0093] Furthermore, the online manual includes an ordering screen forexpendables to be replaced at the time of the maintenance or troubleshooting of the measuring device 1 or optional components of themeasuring device 1, and an operator of the measuring device 1 can orderimplements or components from the maker A by inputting necessaryinformation in the ordering screen.

[0094] Hereinafter, a configuration and an operation of each part of theexpendables order system will be explained in detail.

[0095] At first, the configuration of the measuring device 1 will beexplained.

[0096] The measuring device 1 includes a control unit 11, a monitor unit12, a measurement processing unit 13, a display processing unit 14, aninput unit 15, a communication unit 16, a main power supply 17 and amonitor power supply 18.

[0097] The control unit 11 is realized by, for example, a microcomputerand controls the operation of each part of the measuring device 1. Themonitor unit 12 monitors the operation of the control unit 11. Thecontrol unit 11 outputs a unique code (status code) in accordance withthe operation status of its own and outputs from various sensorsprovided in some parts of the measuring device 1, and the monitor unit12 determines the operation status of the measuring device 1 based onthis status code.

[0098] The measurement processing unit 13 has a configuration inaccordance with items to be measured of the measuring device 1 andcarries out a series of processes relating to the measurement including,for example, detection of a material to be measured, correctionscalculation, and storing and input of the measurement results. Thedisplay processing unit 14 carries out the process of displaying animage, etc. on the monitor 14 a and has a browsing function ofdisplaying an HTML document.

[0099] The input unit 15 includes an input device and receives the inputfrom an operator through this input device. Note here that as the inputdevice, a pointing device such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc. or a touchpanel incorporated into the monitor 14 a can be used.

[0100] The communication unit 16 is connected to the Internet 10 andsends/receives data to/from the other computers on the Internet 10. Notehere that a connection topology between the measuring device 1 and theInternet 10 may be any one of a dial-up terminal type connection, ordial-up network type connection via a LAN (not shown) of an operator ofthe measuring device or a leased line connection.

[0101] The main power supply 17 and the monitor power supply 18 are twodifferent routes of power supplies that are independent from each other.The monitor power supply 18 supplies electric power to componentsincluding a control unit 11, a monitor unit 12, a display processingunit 14, an input unit 15 and a communication unit 16, which relate tothe communication with the WWW server 24 and the display of theoperation manual. On the other hand, the main power supply 17 supplieselectric power to the component such as a measurement processing unit13, which does not directly relate to the communication with the WWWserver 24 and the display of the operation manual.

[0102] The reason why two routes of electric power supplies are providedin this way will be mentioned below. That is, when the maintainingprocess (including any processes necessary to maintain a normaloperation status of device, for example, an inspection process, amaintenance process, an error handling, a trouble shooting, or the like)of the measuring device 1, for safety of an operator, the operator isobliged to turn off the power supply of at least the site where themaintaining process is to be carried out. With this configuration, atthe time of maintaining process, even if the main power supply 17 isturned off, by supplying electric power to the component portionnecessary to display the operation manual from the different route ofmonitor power supply 18, it is possible to continue to display theoperation manual.

[0103] Next, an intra-company system 2 of the maker A will be explained.

[0104] The intra-company system 2 includes a DSU (Digital Service Unit)21, a CSU (Channel Service Unit) 22, a router 23, the WWW server 24, afirewall 25 and a LAN 26. To the LAN 26, an intra-company subsystem,etc. of the maker A (for example, an ordered article control server 27or a customer data control server 28 of a distribution center) isconnected.

[0105] The WWW server 24 includes an operation manual storage unit 24 astoring the operation manual of the measuring device 1. The operationmanual is divided into pages in accordance with the status of themeasuring device 1 and the operation procedure of the measuring device 1is described in each page in an HTML.

[0106] Note here that the configuration of the intra-company system 2 isnot limited to an example shown in FIG. 1. That is, the intra-companysystem 2 may include, in addition to the component elements shown inFIG. 1, any arbitrary devices including a device concerning the Internetconnection, for example, a mail server, a name server, a proxy server,or the like; a computer, etc. necessary to the business of the maker A,and the like.

[0107] Furthermore, the connection relationship between the connectionelements of the intra-comp any system 2 is not necessarily limited to anexample shown in FIG. 1. For instance, in the example shown in FIG. 1,the WWW server 24 is a stand-alone that is not connected to the LAN 26.However, the WWW server 24 may be connected to the LAN 26. Furthermore,in the example shown in FIG. 1, the WWW server 24 is present inside thefirewall 25 like the LAN 26. However, the WWW server 24 may be placedoutside the firewall 25. Furthermore, each of the WWW server 24 and theLAN 26 may be provided with a firewall 25, respectively.

[0108] Next, the operation of each part of this system will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Note here that FIG. 2 is a flow chartshowing an operation procedure of the measuring device 1; and FIG. 3 isa flow chart showing an operation procedure of the WWW server 24 in theintra-company system 2 of the maker A.

[0109] When the power supplies (main power supply 17 and monitor powersupply 18) are turned on (step S1 of FIG. 2), the communication unit 16dials up the NOC (Network Operation Center) of a provider at the commandof the control unit 11, so that the measuring device 1 is connected tothe Internet 10. Note here that an example of the dial-up connection washerein explained, but the connection topology between the measuringdevice 1 and the Internet 10 is not necessarily limited to the dial-upconnection as mentioned above.

[0110] Next, the control unit 11 of the measuring device 1 sends acommand to the communication unit 16 and designates a URL of a top pageof the online manual provided by the maker A to access the WWW server 24(step S3).

[0111] When the WWW server 24 receives the designation of URL from themeasuring device 1 (step S21 of FIG. 3), it sends HTML data inaccordance with the designated URL (in this case, HTML data of the toppage of the online manual) to the measuring device 1 (step S22 of FIG.3).

[0112] The communication unit 16 of the measuring device 1 receives thedata from the WWW server 24 and submits them to a display processingunit 14 having a browsing function, and thereby the image of the toppage is displayed on the monitor 14 a of the display processing unit 14(step S4 of FIG. 2).

[0113] The top page of the online manual is configured as a menu screenand one example there is as shown in FIG. 5. An operator of themeasuring device 1 selects from the objects displayed on the menuscreen, “Announcement,” “How to operate” “Maintenance,” etc., therebyallowing the detailed manual to be displayed. A touch panel isincorporated in the monitor 14 a, so that when the operator touches thetouch panel on the object displayed on the screen by the finger, etc.the input unit 15 recognizes that the object is selected.

[0114]FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of the page sent from the WWW server24 and newly displayed, respectively, when an operator selects “How tooperate” and “Maintenance” in the menu screen of FIG. 5.

[0115] In each object, a hyperlink is set. When the URL designated inthe hyperlink selected by an operator is sent to the WWW server 24 viathe input unit 15 and the communication unit 16, the HTML data of theURL is sent from the WWW server 24 to the measuring device 1.

[0116] Furthermore, in the measuring device 1, besides the selection byan operator, the monitor unit 12 monitors the state of the operation ofthe control unit 11, and automatically obtains a page in accordance withthe operation state of the measuring device 1 from the WWW server 24 anddisplays thereof. The mechanism thereof will be mentioned below.

[0117] As mentioned above, the control unit 11 outputs the unique code(status code) in accordance with its own operation status and the outputfrom various sensors provided in some parts of the measuring device 1 tothe monitor unit 12. On the other hand, in the operation manual storageunit 24 a of the WWW server 24, each page of the operation manual isprovided with a URL in accordance with the status code.

[0118] For instance, if the status code when trouble occurs in a certainpart of the measuring device 1 is “T0001” a page in which this troubleshooting procedure is described is provided with “T0001.htm” as a URL(path name).

[0119] Thus, the monitor unit 12 can determine a URL to be designatedbased on the status code uniquely and request a proper page inaccordance with the status of the measuring device 1 to the WWW server24 via the communication unit 16.

[0120] In the measuring device 1, when the control unit 11 starts anormal measurement operation by the selection of an operator, themonitor unit 12 detects this by the status code output from the controlunit 11, sends an indication to the communication unit 16 and designatesa URL of a page in which the explanation about the first one step of themeasurement procedure in online manual is described to access the WWWserver 24. Thus, the communication unit 16 obtains HTML data of thefirst one page of the measurement procedure manual from the WWW server24, and the display unit 14 makes the HTML data to be imaged anddisplays them on the monitor 14 a (step S5).

[0121] When the operator executes one step of the measurement processwhile viewing the content displayed on the monitor 14 a, a signalindicating that the one step of process was finished normally is sentfrom the measurement processing unit 13 to the control unit 11 (stepS6). On receiving this signal, the control unit 11 updates the statuscode and determines whether or not all the steps of the measurementprocesses are finished (step S7). When it determines that all theprocesses are not finished, the operation returns to the step S5 and isto execute the next step of the measurement process.

[0122] At this time, the monitor unit 12 detects this based on thestatus code from the control unit 11, sends an indication to thecommunication unit 16 and designates a URL of a page in which theexplanation about the next step is described to access the WWW server24. Thus, the page in which the explanation about the next step isdescribed is obtained from the WWW server 24 and displayed on themonitor 14 a.

[0123] The above-mentioned operations are repeated until all the stepsof the measurement procedure are finished. Thus, since the monitor unit12 monitors the status code of the control unit 11 and thereby a properpage in accordance with the advancing state of the measuring operationis displayed on the monitor 14 a, an operator of the measuring device 1can complete the measurement operation simply by advancing theoperations based on the display on the monitor 14 a without operatingthe online manual.

[0124] On the other hand, the maintenance of the measuring device 1 iscarried out as follows. In the top page, if an operator selects“Maintenance,” the control unit 11 sends a signal to the communicationunit 16 and designates a URL of a page in the online manual in which theexplanation about the first one step of the maintenance procedure isdescribed to access the WWW server 24.

[0125] The WWW server 24 sends the HTML data in accordance with the URL(in this case, HTML data of a page including the explanation about thefirst one step of the maintenance procedure) to the measuring device 1(steps S21, S22 of FIG. 3).

[0126] The communication unit 16 of the measuring device 1 receives theHTML data from the WWW server 24 and sends it to the display unit 14,and the display unit 14 creates an image of this to be displayed on themonitor 14 a (step S8 of FIG. 2).

[0127] When the operator executes one step of the maintenance procedurewhile viewing the content displayed on the monitor 14 a, a status codeindicating that the one step of process was finished normally is sentfrom a sensor provided in a place where the maintenance is to be carriedout to the control unit 11 (step S9).

[0128] Note here that other than the configuration in which a sensor isprovided in the maintenance place for allowing the sensor to detect thatone step of the maintenance process is finished, there may be aconfiguration in which the control unit 11 detects that the step isfinished by providing each page of the maintenance procedure manual witha “Finish” button, etc. by which an operator can confirm and input whenthe step described in the page is finished.

[0129] When one step of the maintenance process is finished, the controlunit 11 determines whether or not all the steps are finished (step S10)and if all the steps are not finished, the operation returns to the stepS8. At this time, based on the status code of the control unit 11, themonitor unit 12 detects this, designates a URL of a page in which theexplanation about the next step is described, and allows thecommunication unit 16 to access the WWW server 24. Thus, the page inwhich the explanation about the next step is described is sent from theWWW server 24 and displayed on the monitor 14 a. The above-mentionedoperation is repeated until all the steps of the maintenance processesare finished.

[0130] Note here that in the last page of the maintenance procedure ofthe measuring device 1, as shown in FIG. 8, an ordering screen 41 forordering expendables to be replaced at the time of maintenance isincorporated. After all the steps of the maintenance processes arefinished, an operator of the measuring device 1 inputs the number ofnecessary expendables into number entry boxes 41 a and 41 b in theordering screen 41, and then presses an order confirmation button 41 awith an indication of “Order.” Then, the input unit 15 receives thisinput, and forms order data of expendables (in this case, filter holderand O-ring) and sends them to the WWW server 24 via the communicationunit 16 (step S11).

[0131] When the WWW server 24 receives the order data from the measuringdevice 1, the WWW server 24 sends a client number for identifying aclient who sent the order data, ordered date, information of expendablesfor identifying the ordered expendables, and a number of each expendableto the ordered article control server 27 of a distribution center (stepS23 of FIG. 3).

[0132] The client number is a number assigned to a person who isregistered as a user of the measuring device 1. On the intra-companysystem 2 of the maker A, each user of the measuring device 1 isidentified by this client number. For example, when deliveringexpendables ordered from a client, etc., in the case where detailedinformation such as address, telephone number, or the like, of eachclient is needed, such information may be obtained from the client datacontrol server 28 based on the client number.

[0133] The ordered article control server 27 carries out the process ofdelivering the ordered expendables based on such information.Furthermore, such information is sent to the other systems in the makerA (for example, an accounting system, an inventory control system, etc.)via a LAN 26, and can be used for the purpose of issuing bills,inventory controls, or the like.

[0134] In this way, since the monitor unit 12 obtains a proper page forthe maintenance procedure from the WWW server 24 and allows it to bedisplayed on the monitor 14 a, the operator can carry out themaintenance easily by advancing work in accordance with the contentdisplayed on the monitor 14 a. Furthermore, if it is necessary toreplace expendables during the maintenance process, since it is possibleto order expendables by means of the ordering screen displayed at theend, it is possible to prevent forgetting ordering and to save time andeffort.

[0135] Furthermore, in the measuring device 1, if some troubles occurduring the execution of the measurement, etc., a signal indicating thattrouble occurs is sent from a sensor, etc. provided in some parts of themeasurement processing unit 13 and the measuring device 1 to the controlpart 11. In this case, the process that has been executed by the controlpart 11 is interrupted and trouble shooting starts as mentioned below.

[0136]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a troubleshooting. The control unit 11 firstly sends an indication to the displayprocessing unit 14 and allows the display status of the monitor 14 a atthe time the trouble occurs to be stored in a storage region (not shown)possessed by the display processing unit 14 (step S30).

[0137] Furthermore, the monitor unit 12 detects that trouble occurs froma status code of the control unit 11, sends an indication to thecommunication unit 16 and designates a URL of a page in which theexplanation about the first step of trouble shooting is described toaccess the WWW server 24 (step S31). At this time, the monitor unit 12can determine a unique URL of a proper page from the status code asmentioned above. Thus, the proper page in which the explanation aboutthe first step of the trouble shooting is described is sent from the WWWserver 24 and displayed on the monitor 14 a.

[0138] When an operator executes one step of the trouble shooting whileviewing the monitor 14 a, a signal indicating that the one step of theprocess was finished normally is sent from the sensors provided invarious places of the measuring device 1 to the control unit 11 (StepS32).

[0139] Note here that other than the configuration of allowing thevarious places of the measuring device 1 to detect that one step of thetrouble shooting is finished from the output from the sensor, aconfiguration may be employed in which the control unit 11 detects thatthe step is finished by providing each page of the trouble shootingprocedure manual with a “Finish” button, etc. by which an operator canconfirm and input when the step described in the page is finished.

[0140] When one step of the maintenance procedure is finished, thecontrol unit 11 determines whether or not all the steps are finished(step S33), and if all the steps are not finished, the procedure returnsto the step S31. At this time, the monitor unit 12 detects this andsends an indication to the communication unit 16, and designates a URLof a page in which the explanation about the next step of the troubleshooting based on the status code of the control unit 11 to access theWWW server 24. Thus, the page in which the explanation about the nextstep of the trouble shooting is sent from the WWW server 24 anddisplayed on the monitor 14 a. The above-mentioned operations arerepeated until all the trouble shooting are finished.

[0141] Note here that when it is necessary to replace expendables duringthe trouble shooting procedure, an ordering screen of the expendables isincorporated in the last page of the trouble shooting manual, the sameas shown in FIG. 8. After all the steps of the trouble shooting arefinished, the operator of the measuring device 1 inputs the necessarynumber of each expendable and presses a button with an indication“Order,” and thereby the input unit 15 forms order data of respectiveexpendables and sends them to the WWW server 24 via the communicationunit 16 (Step S34).

[0142] In this way, since the monitor unit 12 obtains a proper page forthe procedure of the trouble shooting from the WWW server 24 and allowsit to be displayed on the monitor 14 a, the operator can handle thetrouble easily by advancing work in accordance with the contentdisplayed on the monitor 14 a. Furthermore, if it is necessary toreplace expendables during the trouble shooting, since it is possible toorder expendables on the ordering screen displayed most recently, it ispossible to prevent forgetting ordering and to save time and effort.

[0143] Finally, the control unit 11 sends the indication to the displayprocessing unit 14 and returns the display status on the monitor 14 a tothe display status at the time when a trouble occurs, which is stored inthe storage region in the step S30 (Step S35). Thus, since a work ofinspection of the inside the measuring device 1 or replacement ofcomponents is carried out during the trouble shooting, even if the mainpower supply 17 is turned off and the main power supply 17 is turned onagain after the work is finished, the display status of the monitor 14 areturns not to the initial screen but to the screen at the time troubleoccurs. Therefore, an operator of the measuring device 1 easily canreturn to the work before the trouble occurs.

[0144] Note here that the flow charts in FIGS. 2 to 4 show an example inwhich an ordering screen is incorporated in a page explaining the laststep of the maintenance process and the trouble shooting in theoperation manual, and the input and sending of the order data arecarried out after all the steps are finished. However, the timing ofinput and sending of the order data is not necessarily limited to this,and input and sending of the order data can be carried out at anarbitrary stage in the maintenance process and trouble shooting.

[0145] For example, by providing each page having an explanation aboutthe step including the replacement of expendables with an orderingscreen, the ordering may be carried out each time. Alternately, byproviding each page having an explanation about the step including thereplacement of expendables with an ordering screen into which thenecessary number etc. is allowed to be input and after all the steps arefinished, ordering of all the expendables may be confirmed in totalafter all the steps are finished.

[0146] Alternately, a page for explaining the procedure of a maintenanceprocess and the trouble shooting and an ordering screen of eachexpendable may be configured separately and jumped by a hyperlink from apage for explaining the procedure of the maintenance process and thetrouble shooting to a page including an ordering screen of expendables.

[0147] Herein, FIGS. 9 and 15 show specific examples of a series ofpages to be displayed on the monitor 14 a from the time trouble occursto the time the trouble shooting is finished. Note here that in thebelow mentioned explanation, the domain name of the WWW server 24 is tobe “www.arkray.co.jp”.

[0148]FIG. 9 shows an example of a page displayed on the monitor 14 awhen trouble occurs. Herein, it is assumed that when an operatoroperates the device in accordance with the indication of this page, atrouble occurs in which wash water overflows a cell washing part (notshown) of the measurement processing unit 13.

[0149] When the wash water overflows, the sensor of the measurementprocessing unit 13 detects this and sends a signal to the control unit11, and thereby the control unit 11 detects that the trouble occurs andthe trouble shooting as shown in FIG. 4 starts. The status code of thecontrol unit 11 at this time is a code assigned uniquely to the event“Overflow of wash water in the cell washing part,” and this code hereinis “T0320.” Note here that a status displayed on the monitor 14 a at thetime the trouble occurs shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the storage regionpossessed by the display processing unit 14.

[0150] The monitor unit 12 designates“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0320.htm” as a URL tobe requested to the WWW server 24 based on the status code. Thus, asshown in FIG. 10, HTML information explaining the procedure: “1. Turnoff power supply switch” is sent from the WWW server 24 and displayed onthe monitor 14 a.

[0151] Note here that in accordance with the indication shown in a pageof FIG. 10, even if an operator turns off the switch of the main powersupply 17 of the measuring device 1, since the monitor power supply 18supplying the control unit 11, the monitor unit 12, the displayprocessing unit 14, the input unit 15 and the communication unit 16 withelectric power is provided separately from the main power supply 17 asmentioned above, the display status of the monitor 14 a and theconnection status of the WWW server 24 are maintained.

[0152] When the operator turns off a main power supply switch of themeasuring device 1, the control unit 11 detects this and outputs thestatus code “T0321” to the monitor unit 12. The monitor unit 12 makes aURL, requesting the WWW server 24 to transfer via the communication unit16 based on this status code, to be“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0321.htm.” Thus, HTMLinformation about the following page of the HTML information is sentfrom the WWW server 24 and a page shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on themonitor 14 a.

[0153] Furthermore, when the operator detaches one tube of the filterholder in accordance with the indication in the page shown in FIG. 11,the sensor detecting that this tube is turned off sends a signal to thecontrol unit 11, whereby the status code of the control unit 11 becomes“T0322” and the monitor unit 12 detects this and makes a URL requestingto the WWW server 24 to transfer via the communication unit 16 to be“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0322.htm.” Thus, apage shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 14 a.

[0154] Continuously, when the operator replaces filters and O-rings andcloses a cap of the filter holder in accordance with the indicationsshown in FIG. 12, the sensor provided in the filter holder part detectsthis and sends a signal to the control unit 11. Thereby, the status codeof the control unit 11 becomes “T0323,” and the monitor unit 12 detectsthis and makes the URL requesting the WWW server 24 to transfer via thecommunication unit 16 to be“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0323.htm.” Thus, asshown in FIG. 13, a page including an ordering screen of the replacedcomponents is displayed on the monitor 14 a. That is, in this example,the operation manual is formed so that a page including an orderingscreen is displayed in the page following the page indicating thereplacement of components.

[0155] The operator inputs the number of necessary components to bepurchased and clicks a box with an indication “Order” so as to allow acheck mark to be displayed, and further clicks “Decision of purchases.”Thereby, the order data is formed by the input unit 15 and sent to theWWW server 24 via the communication unit 16.

[0156] After the sending of the order data is finished, the status codeof the control unit 11 becomes “T0324,” and then the monitor unit 12detects this and makes a URL requesting the WWW server 24 to transfervia the communication unit 16 to be“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0324.htm.” Thus, apage shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the monitor 14 a.

[0157] In accordance with the indication shown in FIG. 14, the operatorinserts the tube into the filter holder, a sensor detecting that thistube is inserted sends a signal to the control unit 11 and the statuscode of the control unit 11 becomes “T0325”. Then, the monitor unit 12detects this and makes a URL requesting the WWW server 24 to transfervia the communication unit 16 to be“http://www.arkray.co.jp/tsg/onlinemanual/dm3310/t0325.htm.” Thus, asshown in FIG. 15, a page explaining the procedure of turning on a switchof the main power supply again is displayed on the monitor 14 a.

[0158] Then, in accordance with the indication of this page, theoperator turns on the main power supply 17 again and the displayprocessing unit 14 obtains a display status at the time trouble occursfrom the storage region, thereby returning the display status of themonitor 14 a to the display status when a trouble occurs shown in FIG.9.

[0159] As mentioned above, the operator of the measuring device 1 cancarry out a trouble shooting in accordance with the operation manualdisplayed on the monitor 14 a, as well as, carry out ordering of thecomponents by means of an ordering screen incorporated in the operationmanual.

[0160] Furthermore, after the trouble shooting is finished, since themonitor 14 a returns to the display status before the trouble occurs,the operator can return to the original work easily. Note here that as amechanism for storing the display status of the monitor 14 a andreturning to the display status later, it is possible to use, forexample, a mechanism such as Cookie used in Java Script.

[0161] Note here that since the measuring device 1 includes “Ordering”as options on the menu screen of the top page shown in FIG. 5. Besides amethod for ordering expendables during the above-mentioned maintenanceprocess or trouble shooting, needless to say, when the operator selectsan object “Order” from the top page, regardless of the maintenanceprocess or trouble shooting, it is possible to order arbitraryexpendables.

[0162] Furthermore, in the above explanation, an embodiment in which inthe measuring device 1 is a client device, the monitor unit 12determines a URL of the corresponding page of the operation manual basedon the status code of the measuring device 1 and sends the determinedURL to the WWW server 24 was explained as an example. However, thepresent invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. Forexample, there may be a mechanism in which the status code is usuallysent to the intra-company system 2 from the measuring device 1, and theother server device, etc. provided in the WWW server 24 or theintra-company system 2 monitors the status code sent from the measuringdevice 1, determines a URL of the corresponding page of the operationmanual when a certain status code is received, for example, when troubleoccurs in the measuring device 1, and sends the HTML data of thedetermined URL from the WWW server 24 to the measuring device 1.

[0163] In this embodiment, an example in which the client device and theserver device are connected to each other via the Internet wasexplained, the communication line is not limited to a wide area network,and a communication line between the client device and the server devicemay be a private circuit or public circuit. Furthermore, thecommunication line connecting between the client device and the serverdevice is not limited to circuit switched network, and it may be apacket switched network.

[0164] Furthermore, FIGS. 5 to 15 of this embodiment shows an exampleusing Internet Explorer (IE) of Microsoft Corporation as a browser,respectively. However, the browser used by the client device is notnecessarily limited to this.

[0165] Furthermore, a language describing an online manual of the clientdevice is not limited to an HTML, and XML, VRML, CGI, Java Script,Active X document or other various WEB page descriptive languages can beused.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0166] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, anarbitrary device such as a measuring device, etc. is used as a clientdevice and a proper operation manual in accordance with the status ofthe client is provided from the server device to the client device.Thereby it is possible to provide a client support system capable ofimproving the working efficiency of the client device.

1. A client support system comprising a client device comprising adisplay unit for analyzing a page description language to be displayed,and a server device accessed by the client device via a communicationline and providing the client device with an operation manual in whicheach page is described in the page description language, wherein theclient device comprises a monitor unit for monitoring the status of theclient device and a communication control unit for accessing the serverdevice via the communication line, and the monitor unit requests a pagein the operation manual in accordance with the status of the clientdevice via the communication control unit, and the server device sendsthe page requested by the client device to the client device.
 2. Aclient support system comprising a client device comprising a displayunit for analyzing a page description language to be displayed, and aserver device accessed by the client device via a communication line andproviding the client device with an operation manual in which each pageis described in the page description language, wherein the client devicecomprises a monitor unit for monitoring the status of the client deviceand a communication control unit for accessing the server device via thecommunication line, and the monitor unit sends information thatrepresents the status of the client device via the communication controlunit, and the server device sends a page in the operation manual inaccordance with the status of the client device to the client devicebased on the information sent from the client device.
 3. The clientsupport system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the client devicecomprises at least two routes of power supplies; and the display unit,the monitor unit and the communication control unit are connected to asecond route of power supply that is different from a first route ofpower supply to be turned off at the time of a maintaining process. 4.The client support system according to claim 3, wherein the display unitof the client device comprises a display status storage unit for storingthe display status before starting the maintaining process, and thedisplay unit returns to the display status read out from the displaystatus storage unit when the first power supply is turned on after themaintaining process is finished.
 5. The client support system accordingto any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation manual comprises anordering screen that interactively receives an order for implements orcomponents of the client device and forms order data, the client devicecomprises an input processing unit for receiving the input with respectto the ordering screen and at the same time sends the order data to theserver device by the communication control unit, and the server devicereceives the order data and performs a supply process for the implementsor components based on the received order data.
 6. The client supportsystem according to claim 5, wherein in the operation manual, theordering screen for components is incorporated in a page including thedescription of the replacement of components of the client device. 7.The client support system according to claim 5, wherein in an operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pageexplaining a series of operation procedures including the replacement ofcomponents of the client device and being displayed later than the pageincluding the description of the replacement of components.
 8. Theclient support system according to claim 5, wherein in the operationmanual, the ordering screen for components is incorporated in a pagecalled by a hyperlink from the page including the description of thereplacement of components of the client device.
 9. The client supportsystem according to any one of claims 5 to 8, further comprising asupply control device for controlling the supply process of implementsor components for the client device, wherein the supply process ofimplements or components comprises sending the order data from theserver device to the supply control device.
 10. A client devicecomprising a communication control unit for accessing a server deviceproviding an operation manual in which each page is described in a pagedescription language via a communication line, and a display unit foranalyzing the page description language to be displayed, the serverdevice sending a page requested by the client device of the operationmanual to the client device, and further comprising a monitor unit formonitoring the status of the client device, the monitor unit requestinga page of the operation manual in accordance with the status of theclient device via the communication control unit.
 11. A client devicecomprising a communication control unit for accessing the server deviceproviding a page of the operation manual in accordance with the statusof the client device in which each page is described in a pagedescription language via a communication line, a display unit foranalyzing the page description language to be displayed, and a monitorunit for monitoring the status of the client device, wherein the monitorunit sends information that represents the status of the client deviceto the server device via the communication control unit.
 12. The clientdevice according to claim 10 or 11, comprising at least two routes ofpower supplies; and the display unit, the monitor unit and thecommunication control unit are connected to a second route of powersupply that is different from a first route of power supply to be turnedoff at the time of a maintaining process.
 13. The client deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the display unit of the client devicecomprises a display status storage unit for storing the display statusbefore starting the maintaining process, and the display unit returns tothe display status read out from the display status storage unit whenthe first power supply is turned on after the maintaining process isfinished.
 14. The client device according to any one of claims 10 to 13,wherein the operation manual comprises an ordering screen thatinteractively receives an order for implements or components of theclient device and forms order data, and further comprising an inputprocessing unit for receiving the input with respect to the orderingscreen and at the same time sending the order data to the server deviceby the communication control unit.
 15. The client device according toclaim 14, wherein in the operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page including the description of thereplacement of components of the client device.
 16. The client deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein in an operation manual, the orderingscreen for components is incorporated in a page explaining a series ofoperation procedures including the replacement of components of theclient device and being displayed later than the page including thedescription of the replacement of components.
 17. The client device toclaim 14, wherein in the operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page called by a hyperlink from the pageincluding the description of the replacement of components of the clientdevice.
 18. A server device accessed by a client device via acommunication line and providing the client device with an operationmanual of the client device, the client device comprising a display unitfor analyzing a page description language to be displayed and requestinga page in accordance with the status of the client device in theoperation manual, the server device comprising a storage unit forstoring each page of the operation manual described in the pagedescription language, and a communication control unit for sending andreceiving data, wherein the server device receives a request of a pageof the operation manual in accordance with the statues of the clientdevice from the client device by way of the communication control unit,obtains the requested page from the storage unit, and sends it to theclient device.
 19. A server device accessed by a client devicecomprising a display unit for analyzing a page description language tobe displayed via a communication line and providing the client devicewith an operation manual of the client device, which is described in thepage description language, the server device comprising a storage unitfor storing each page of the operation manual, and a communicationcontrol unit for sending and receiving data, wherein the server devicereceives the information that represents the status of the client devicefrom the client device by way of the communication control unit, andobtains the requested page in the operation manual from the storageunit, and sends it to the client device.
 20. The server device accordingto claim 18 or 19, wherein the operation manual comprises an orderingscreen that interactively receives an order for implements or componentsof the client device and forms order data, the order data are sent fromthe client device to the server device via the communication line, andthe sever device receives the order data from the client device by wayof the communication control unit and performs a supply process of theimplements or components.
 21. The sever device according to claim 20,wherein in the operation manual, the ordering screen for components isincorporated in a page including the description of the replacement ofcomponents of the client device.
 22. The server device according toclaim 20, wherein in an operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page explaining a series of operationprocedures including the replacement of components of the client deviceand being displayed later than the page including the description of thereplacement of components.
 23. The server device according to claim 20,wherein in the operation manual, the ordering screen for components isincorporated in a page called by a hyperlink from the page including thedescription of the replacement of components of the client device. 24.The server device according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein thesupply process for implements or components comprises sending the orderdata to the supply control unit for controlling the supply of implementsor components with respect to the client device.
 25. An informationrecording medium that records an operation manual provided from a serverdevice to a client device in a client support system comprising a clientdevice having a display unit for analyzing a page description languageto be displayed and a server device accessed by the client device via acommunication line and providing the client device with an operationmanual of the client device in which each page is described in the pagedescription language, the client system requesting a page of theoperation manual in accordance with the status in the client device,wherein the operation manual is divided into pages in accordance withthe status of the client device and the operation procedure of theclient device is described in each page with the use of the pagedescription language.
 26. An information recording medium which recordsan operation manual provided from a server device to a client device ina client support system comprising a client device having a display unitfor analyzing a page description language to be displayed, and a serverdevice accessed by the client device via a communication line andproviding the client device with an operation manual of the clientdevice in which each page is described in the page description language,the client device sending information that represents the status of theclient device and the server device sending the page in accordance withthe status of the client device, wherein the operation manual is dividedinto pages in accordance with the possible statuses of the client deviceand the operation procedure of the client device is described in eachpage with the use of the page description language.
 27. The informationrecording medium according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the operationmanual comprises an ordering screen that interactively receives an orderfor implements or components of the client device and forms order data.28. The information recording medium according to claim 27, wherein inthe operation manual, the ordering screen for components is incorporatedin a page including the description of the replacement of components ofthe client device.
 29. The information recording medium according toclaim 27, wherein in an operation manual, the ordering screen forcomponents is incorporated in a page explaining a series of operationprocedures including the replacement of components of the client deviceand being displayed later than the page including the description of thereplacement of components.
 30. The information recording mediumaccording to claim 27, wherein in the operation manual, the orderingscreen for components is incorporated in a page called by a hyperlinkfrom the page including the description of the replacement of componentsof the client device.